Homero Ceron is principal percussionist of the Tucson Symphony specializing in vibraphone, marimba and steel drums. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Ceron earned his undergraduate degree at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and master’s degree at the University of Arizona. He is a percussion instructor at Pima Community College.

Amilcar Guevara was raised in a musical family based in traditional Latin music in his native El Salvador. Here in Tucson, he has directed Salsa and Charanga bands (Charanga being a traditional Cuban dance style). His recording “Tan Cerca, Tan Lejos” (“So Close, Yet So Far”) features a fusion of Jazz with Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms.

This ASA performance is made possible in part through a generous donation by Academy member Lynn Hay.

Testimonials

Making presentations at the Arizona Senior Academy is always a joy and a challenge, because I have to work a little harder to stay one step ahead of the very sharp audience. … And the lovely desert location helps keep us all stimulated.

Designed to bring together individuals with intellectual curiosity in a stimulating environment, [Academy Village] is a successful model for creative retirement that is being used by several other American universities.

Playing at the Academy offers the performer the unique experience of an audience that is simultaneously appreciative and stimulating. The questions that follow can lead to unusual and thought-provoking turns of conversation, both during the performance hour and at the congenial luncheon that so often follows. What a great place to play!

I’ve given talks in venues across the country, and I always look forward to returning to Academy Village. The setting is superb and the venue comfortable—and a speaker couldn’t ask for a more responsive, more receptive audience.

We have always enjoyed performing at the Academy. A gorgeous spot, a wonderful piano, a fantastic audience and exceptional hosts who make their guests feel really special. Does not get better than that!

The opportunity to preview University of Arizona concerts in such a receptive venue, both audience and acoustic-wise, makes the Senior Academy a unique place for us performers. … It is always a great pleasure to perform/lecture at the Arizona Senior Academy.

A treasure on the eastside.

The Arizona Senior Academy provides a comfortable space with great acoustics … This ensures a great time for both audience and performer. It is a fantastic venue in a beautiful desert setting. The icing on the cake is the audience — engaged and eager to hear what the performer has to offer.

I’ve given public lectures around the world, and found the questions asked here at the ASA to be some of the most thoughtful and perceptive that I’ve ever gotten!

The first time I performed at the Arizona Senior Academy I offered two options to the audience for an encore: Chopin or Schoenberg. Who could imagine an audience whose resounding answer would be ‘SCHOENBERG!’ Clearly, this response demonstrates unusually open, perceptive ears!

Performing at the Arizona Senior Academy, in their gorgeous location on the eastern side of Saguaro National Park East, is a high point of the year for both my students and myself. The audience and administration are very welcoming to UA students and faculty, and the subsequent question-and-answer period is always informative.

ASA is a very unique venue that offers a very intimate feel that I truly appreciate as a musician. … A Hidden Gem in the Desert.